CHICAGO, Ill. – The Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball team kicked off its 2023 Spring Break trip with a non-conference tri-match against Augustana (Ill.) College and Concordia University Chicago inside the Geiseman Gymnasium. The Yellow Jackets (16-5 overall) fell in five sets to the Augustana Vikings and dropped the second match to the Concordia Chicago Cougars in three sets.
Match 1 vs Augustana (9-6) - (20-25, 25-15, 15-25, 29-27, 13-15)
BW was led by sophomore outside hitter Michael Devlin (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) as he tallied 14 kills and seven digs. Junior right side hitter Nick Mazzone (Springboro/Bishop Fenwick) notched a match-high 15 kills and four blocks. Junior Academic All-Midwest Collegiate Volleyball league Brandon Long (Hinckley, Metea Valley, Ill.) dished out 43 assists, six digs, and two blocks.
Augustana got the 20-13 jump in set one while BW tried to close the gap, coming within five points (18-23) before AC took game one 25-20. The Yellow Jackets grabbed momentum in set two, going up 20-12 before closing game two 25-15. The Vikings grabbed set three 25-15 and found themselves up 24-17 in set four. The Yellow Jackets stormed back, going on a 8-0 scoring run and earning the 25-24 advantage late in the game. BW, down 27-26, notched the next three points to take set four, 29-27. With the match tied 2-2, BW was down 11-8 in the fifth set. Bringing it within one point, the Yellow Jackets and Vikings went point-for-point, as Augustana claimed the fifth set (15-13) and the match (3-2).
Match 2 vs Concordia Chicago (9-7) - (20-25, 14-25, 18-25)
BW was led by Devlin as he totaled a team-high nine kills. Junior All-MCVL outside hitter Michael Beard (Hilliard/Darby) notched seven digs while adding three kills and two blocks.
With the first set going point-for-point, the Yellow Jackets called their first timeout down 20-18. After being outscored 3-1, BW called its second timeout down 23-19 before the Cougars went on to win game one, 25-20. CUC got out to a hot 12-6 lead as BW called its first timeout. The Cougars kept the momentum and outscored BW 13-8 to end set two (25-14) and go up 2-0 in the match. BW and CUC were tied 6-6 before the Cougars pulled ahead to take a 12-8 advantage, forcing BW to its first timeout. The Yellow Jackets took their second timeout own 15-8 and CUC went on to win set three (25-18) and the match (3-0).
BW returns to the hardwood on Friday, March 10 as the team faces Lakeland (Ill.) University and Aurora (Ill.) University in a non-conference tri-match hosted by Aurora. The Yellow Jackets will face Lakeland at 6:00 p.m. and Aurora at approximately 8:30 p.m. inside the Thornton Gymnasium.
